Pad-forming machine



Sept. 30, 1 930. w; Ar- SHEPARD w FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 W.A.Shepard 2% W 3% 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 N IMQN. NQN

p 0; w. A. SHEPARD PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1928 :LShepard Sept. 30, 1930. w. A. SHEPARD 1,777,231

PAD FORMING MACHINE I Filed July 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4. v

W.A.Shepard 7 Fig. 3.

alter/nu;

Se t. 30, 1930. w. A. SHEPARD PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I anew 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Shepard II gl H I l I i 1 1 WA M5 1 Sept. 30, 1930.

W A. SHEPARD PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1928 p 30, 1930. w. A. SHEPARD PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 M Z p w m v NQNW attic mug Patented Sept. 30, 1930 M I ITED STATES 6F"?!(2E 7 WILLIAM A} SHEPARD, on MOBIERLY, lvrrssouni PAD-FORMING ivr ncnmn sanitation. filed Jul 2, 1928'. Serial at; 289,378.

This invention relates to machinery par sameon the line 10'10 of Figure 9 and looktlcularly adaptedtothemanufacture ofpads ing in the direction of the arrow;

used'in wrapping furniture and other com- Figure 11 is a transverse section theremodities to protect the same during ship throughon the line 11-11 of Figure 9 and merit. looking in the'direction of the arrow, and 55 A particular-object of the invention is to Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal section provide mechanism capable of producing a on the line 12-12 of Figure 5, several parts long continuous pad containing an excelsior of the device being omitted. v or similar fibrous stufling'and having a paper Referring to the drawings, the machine cover or jacket. comprises a suitable base 15, which may be to Another object of the invention is to pro constructed of angle iron or the like to not vide.an adjustable mechanism whereby in only impartstability to the machine but use the size of pads'may be suitably varied. which serves as a ready means for anchoring 'A further object of the invention is to the'machine to a support. The base 15 is provide an improved construction of=-cutting substantially rectangular and elongated and c5 device andto peculiarly dispose it with referis provided along its opposite sides with a once to the other parts of the machine; to pair of upstanding spaced side frames 16 provide anovel construction of paper foldand 17 which may be of similar construction ing'niechanism having the feature of adjustaand may be of open construction with Verbility, and to provide automatic means for ti'cal and horizontal parts disposed for 70 seating the cover and cutting the pad into supporting the various shafts and devices selected lengths. employed. a

With the foregoing and-other objects in At one end'of the machine, which maybe view, the invention will be more fully determed-the rear end thereof, is a chute or scribedhereinafter, and willbe more particuppe 18 in h form 0155 g p ll't'its larly pointed out in the claims appended top adapted to receive excelsior' or other hereto. suitable-fibrous material forming" the body or V In the drawings, wherein like symbols filling of the pad and which opens into a rcfer'tolike or corresponding parts throughcasing 19 disposed at the lower forward end outthe several views, of the chute 18. A conveyor belt 20 ofthe Figure 1 is a side elevation of a packing endless type is mounted in the chute 18on pad machine constructed according to the rolls21 and 22 mounted in the opposite ends present invention, with parts broken away.- of the chute, theroll 22 having a shaft23 Figu're 2 is 'a side elevation showing the carrying a sprocket wheel 2'4 over which opposite side'of themachine to thatshownin passes wchain 25 for operating the'conveyor Figure 1, p v I 20. The casing 19 at its lower end is of Figure '3 is a front elevation of the 'mahopper shape, and arranged closely to the chine, certain parts being omitted. rear wall of the hopper is a picker drum 26 Figure- L is a'r'ear view, severalofthede on the transverse shaft 27. The'drum 26 vices and pa'rtsbeing omitted. carries'peripheral picker points28 which are Figure 5 is atop plan view of the'machine. inclined-slightly ina forward direction with Figuret'is a sidevie'w of'one' of the adrelation to the direction of turning of the justable cutting knivesand adjacent parts drum so as to engage in thefillingmaterial employed. delivered to the drum by 'the'conveyor 20. Figure? isan end view of the same; The-shaft'27 extends throughthe side of'the 95 Fi ures is airenlarged det'ailtop plan view ca'sing'19 and has a large sprocket wheel 29 of'a portion of the machine, showing the thereon over which passesa'drive chain 30. adjustable paper folding devices. Disposed in the upper and forward part of I Figure?) isa'side elevation ofth'esame; thecasing 19-eccentrically t'o the-drum 26 00 Figure 10i's a transversesection 'of' the are a number of relatively small-picker drums 31 the rearmost of which is spaced from the large drum 26 a distance greater than the space between the large drum and the foremost small drum 31. The drums 31 also carry picker points or teeth 32 inclined in the direction of rotation of their respective drums for assisting the large drum 26 in separating the fibers of the filling material and flufling the same as the material is carried over the large drum 26 and delivered to the lower end of the casing 19.

The small drums iii are mounted on shafts 33 projecting through the side of the casing 19 and provided with sprocket wheels 34 over which passes a drive chain The upper run of the drive chain passes over the tops of the sprocket wheels 34 of the upper small drums 31, and forwardly from the casing 19 beneath an idler sprocket wheel and over a sprocket wheel 37 mounted on a shaft 38 which is thedrive shaft of the machine.

The drive shaft 38 is mounted transversely upon the upper ends of the side frames 16 and 17 y and intermediate the ends of the machine. The drive shaft 38 projects beyond the side 16of the frame and is provided with a. clutch 39 of any suitable type for connecting a drivepulley 40 to the shaft 38, the pulley 40 adapted to be driven by a power belt 41 from any suitable source of power. The clutch 39 isconnected to a yoke lever 42 pivoted at one end to a bracket 43 which extends laterally. from the side frame 16 while the other end of the yoke lever 42 is connected to a cross bar 44 which extends through the machineito the opposite side thereof and is secured to a hand lever 45 which projects downwardly for easy access to shift the clutch 39. The lower'run of the chain 35 engages beneath the lowermost sprocket wheel 34 of the lowermost drum 31 and is thence returned to meet the upper run over the upper? most Sprocket wheel 34. By this arrangement all of the drums 31are turned in the same direction.

The bottom of the casing 19 is provided with a delivery opening 46 through which the filling material is delivered, the same passing down between a pair of feed rolls 47. The rolls 47 are mounted on transverse shafts 48 and 49 which are provided outwardly of the side frame 16 with gear wheels 50 which are spaced apart but which are interconnected by intermeshing gear wheels 51 mounted on the side frame 16 and which intermesh with the gears 50, so as to turn the same in opposite directions and provide a feeding throat beneath the delivery opening 46 to carry the filling material downwardly.

One of the shafts. such as the shaft 48 is provided outwardly of the side frame 17 with a sprocket wh el 52 over which passes the forward run of the chain 25 for positively driving the feed rolls 47. The lower portion of the chain 25 passes beneath a sprocket wheel 53 which is disposed outwardly of the side frame 17 and mounted on a transverse shaft 54. The shaft 54 is provided with a second sprocket wheel 55 spaced from the sprocket wheel 53 and in line with the large sprocket wheel 29 of the picker drum 26, the sprocket wheel 5 receiving the lower portion of the chain 30. An idler sprocket wheel 56 is mounted in the upper part of the side frame 17 and engages the chain 30 at a point adjacent thelarge sprocket wheel 29 for the purpose of holding the chain 30 from vibrating and under the proper tension.

As a continuation of the feeding throat, and in line therewith, a pair of forming belts 57 and 58 are arranged with'a run of each disposed in spaced apart relation equal substantially to the desired thickness of the filling, the said runs of the belts 57 and 58 being braced by plates 59 disposed against the outer sides of the belts and over which the same are adapted to pass the plates 59 holding said runs of the belts relatively flat and insuring the uniform compressing of the filling as it passes downwardly through the throat. The belts 5'7 and 58 pass over spaced rolls 60 which are disposed in spaced relation-and in pairs at the upper and lower ends of the guide plates 59. The lower rolls 60 are mounted on shafts 61'whichhave freebearing in the side frames and'are turned under frictional contact with the belts 57 and 58. The upper rolls 6O aremounted upon shafts 62 which are provided' adjacent the side frame 17 with intermeshing gear wheels 63 for interconnecting thebelts 57 and 58 to travel at a uniform speed.

One of the shafts 62 is provided outwardly of the opposite side frame 16 with a sprocket wheel 64 over which passes a drive chain 65 extending from a sprocket wheel 66 mounted on the adjacent end of the transverse shaft 54. The shaft54 also has, intermediate the side frames 16 and 17, a roll 67 over which passes one end of the forming belt 58, and the rolls 60 and 67 are of the same diameter so as to uniformly rotate and to positively drive the belt58 from different points. The belt 58 is heldtaut and about the roller 67 by an idler roller 68 suitably mounted in the frame.

The shaft 54, from which several drives are taken as above described, is driven by a sprocket chain 69 which passes over a sprocket 70 on the outer end of the shaft 54 beyond the frame 17 and which extends downwardly and rearwardly to a sprocket wheel 71 mounted on a transverse shaft 72 supported in the lower rear portion of the frame.

The shaft 72. at the opposite side of the frame carries a sprocket wheel 73 over which passes a sprocket chain 74 extending along the side of the frame to a point near the forward end thereof where the chain 74 passes over a sprocket wheel 75 mounted on a transverse shaft 76 extending through the frame.

The opposite endof theshaft 76 is provided shaft 81 in any suitable manner, the web 82 of the'covering material passing forwardly and upwardlyiover a suitable number of idler rolls83 the upper one ofwhich is disposed in proximity to a paste roller 84 which dips into asuitablereceptacle 85 for feeding paste therefrom to the upper surface of the" web 82-wh-ich passes between the adjacent roller 83 and, the paste roller 84. The paste roller 84 is'o'f suitable width and suitably located, as shown inFigure at, for applying the paste to the desired portion of the web 82.- The web-82 passes downwardly and forwardly from the upper roller 83 and beneath a pair of guide rods 86, which at their rear ends are curved upwardly at substantially right angles and are provided with sleeve portions 87 engaging atransve'rse rod 88 and provided with set screws 89 by means ofwhich the guide rods 861nay be clamped securely in adjusted position. 7 V I 5 The rods'may thus be moved toward and from each other and also swung up and down on the shaft 88 as an axis; Theforward ends of the rods 86taper to substantially small points and extend a considerable distance throughout;thelength of'the machine. The rear curved ends of the guide rods 86 engage the upper surface of the web; 82 and depress at anddirect thewe'b beneath the lower end of the throat,- as shown in Figure 12 so that the filling material which is delivered from between the forming belts 57 and 58 is de-' posited directly on the forwardly moving web 82. "Beneath the guide rods 86 is a feed belt 90, which is disposed horizontally and extends lengthwise in the frame and supported at its rear end upon a roll- 91 arranged in closely spaced apart relation to the lower idler roller83, so as to support the web 82 as it comes from the roll] 80 up againstthe lower idler roll 83 to feed the web 82 forwardly and thus assist in feeding the web forwardly. The roll 91 is mounted on the transverse shaft 72, so as to drive the roll and the belt 90. Beneath the upper run of the feed belt is disposed a horizontal guide plate 92 for holding the upper run of the belt from sagging and to maintain the belt perfectly flat. V r

The opposite-end of the drive belt 90 passes over a roll 93, which is mounted on the shaft 76 and which is also driven so as to assist in operating the feed belt90 Above theEfeed belt 90 and outwardly of the guide-rods 86 is a pair of edge lifting bars 94;. which extend longitudinally ofithe belt 90 and which, at their rear ends, are

flared outwardly so as to receive thereb'e tween the opposite'edges of the Web for bending the same upwardly about the guide rods 86. These bars 94' are positioned edgewise over the belt 90 and are adjustably supported to vary the space between them by hand screws 95 or the like which are mounted in the side frames 16 and 17 near the oppositeends of the bars 94; V

Spaced forwardly from the curved ends of the guide bars 94 is a pair of folders 96-. Each folder comprises a platexwhich has its inner edge rolled inwardly and upwardly to provide'aweb edge engaging--bead97, the rollof the bead being such that the bead is larger at the rear 'end'of the folder 96 and is tapered-off and substantially disappears at the forward end of the folder; It will be noted that the head 97 is rounded or beveled at its rear end, asshown at 98, forthe purpose of initially receiving the Lip-turned edge of the web and deflecting it inwardly and downwardly over the guide rod's86 and the filling material which is disposed between and over the rods. The folders 96 are each provided at each end with a pivoted supporting arm 99 which extends outwardly toward; the ad jacent side frame and is provided with a longitudinal slot 100 in its outer end torejceive a clamping bolt 101 by means ofwhich the arm is adjustably; secured to the clamping frame. These'arms 99 may thus be moved to project'the folders 96 at the desired angle and distance into the. frame and across the top of the feed belt 90. I c

As shown in Figure 8, one of the folders 96 is advanced forwardly beyond the other folder and the advanced end is extended acrossthe medial line of the feed belt, so as to insure the proper turning over of the upper fold upon the lower fold.

Spaced slightly forwardly of'the folders 96 and the guide rods 86 is a sealing roll 102 of suitable weight mounted upon a shaft 103 disposed above the feed belt 90 and adapted to engage the upper side of the casing formed by the web82 after its side portions have been folded over. The roller 102 is located intermediate of the side frames 16 and 17 so as to engage the top of the upper flap and press it down against the upper 'sur-' faceof the lower flap to seal the cover about the'filling. The roller 102 is turned by achain 10 1 which passes over a sprocket wheel 105 on theshaft 103 and over a second sprocket wheel 106 mounted on the shaft 107 which is disposed directly over the shaft .76. The shaft 107 projects beyond the sprocket wheel 106 and carries a second spro'cke't wheel 108 over which passes a chain 109 driven by aisprocket wheel 110 on a stub shaft 111; The shaft 111 is also provided with a sprocket wheel 112 which engages the upper run of the sprocket chain 74 so as to be driven thereby. The provision of the sprocket chain 109 causes the rotation of the shaft 76 which is driven directly from the sprocket. chain 74. 'The shaft 107 is providedwith a feed roll 113 which may have a ribbed or otherwise roughened periphery for contact with the top of the d formed, so as to cooperate with the feed belt 90 in pushing the pad forwardly.

The pressure of the roller 113 may be regulated by a handle 114 disposedadjacent to the clutch handle and connected by rods 115 and bell crank levers 116 to the shaft 107.

At the forward end of the machine adjustable cutting mechanism is provided. The mechanism comprises a pair of vertically aliningshafts 117 and 118 which extend transversely of the frame and which carry hollow drums 119 having longitudinal slots 120, one in the side of each drum. The slots 120 each accommodate a cutterblade121 which is in the form of a fiat blade of at least the width of the formed pad and which at its inner edge ortion has siots 122 through which clamping olts 123 are secured, the clamping bolts mounted upon anangle bracket 124. The bracket 124 is'provided at its angle portion with a lip 125 for the reception of a set screw 126 threaded through the lip 125 to engage the inner edge of the blade 121 and move and retain the same outwardly in adjusted position. Each an le bracket 124 carries a substantially radia ly extending clamping belt 127, the head of each bolt 127 being engaged between a pair of laterally flanged discs 128-, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and which admit of the adjustment of the angle bracket 124 into any desired position about the circumference of the discs 127. The discs 128 have each a hub portion 129 splined upon its shaft, 117 and 118, and secured in adjusted position on the shaft by a set screw 130. The drums 119 determine the depth of cut and are adapted to engage the upper and lower surfaces of the formed pad during the cutting action so as to support the pad in line with the cutters 121.

The shafts 117 and 118 are provided with intermeshing gear wheels 131 which hold the shafts 117 and 118 in proper angular relation with'respect to each other. The cutting blades 121 are so adjusted on the shafts 117 and 118 that they are brought together in slightly overlapping relation as shown in Figure 7, to effect a shearing action between the blades. Of course,'the blades 121 may be adjusted to any desired degree of overlapping or spacing apart dependent upon the nature of the material and the cut desired. The cutters are positively driven by a gear wheel 132 which meshes with the lower gear wheel 131 and is mounted on the shaft 133. The shaft 133 carries a gear wheel 134 which meshes with a gear wheel 136 on the shaft 137 The shaft 137 is preferably located near the base 15 and at the forward end of the frame, and is provided with a sprocket wheel 138 receiving a chain. 139 thereover which extends to a sprocket wheel. 140 mounted on the shaft 76.

A pair of ejector rolls 141 are mounted on the forward end of the machine inline with the cutters and are adapted to receive therebetween the severed padand eject the latter from the machine. Theserolls 141 are mounted on shafts 142 and 143 which are provided with intermeshing gear wheels 144. These ejecting rolls 141 may have roughened or otherwise suitably formed peripheries for grasping the upper and lower sides of the cut pad and delivering the same from the machine. The shaft 143 is provided with a sprocket wheel 145 carrying a chain 146 which extends downwardly and rearwardly over a sprocket wheel 147 mounted on the shaft 137.

In operation, when it is desired to start the machine, the operator manipulates the handle 45 to move the clutch and interlock the pulley 40 with the shaft 88. The driving of the shaft 38 through the chain 35 operates the small picker drums 31. The shaft 38, through the belt 78, turns the shaft 76 and through the various chains connected thereto operates the remaining parts of the machine according to the above described connections toproduce the sequence of op erations which follow.

Excelsior or other suitable fibrous material used in filling packing pads and the like, is deposited in the chute 18 and carried by the conveyor 26 into the expanding and starting chamber 19. The large drum 26 first engages the fibrous material and lifts it into contact with the smaller picker drums 31. It will be noted that the picker teeth of the respective drums, which are inclined and indicate the direction of rotation of the drums, engage in the fibers of the material and pull the fibers apart and open up or'flufl the material so as to roduce a packing or filling which is capa le of compression under varying pressures. The treated material in its expanded condition passes downwardly through the outlet opening 46 into the throat of the machine. The feed rolls 47 engage the material and urge it downwardly into the space between the forming belts 57 and 56 where the material is part1 compressed and shaped into mat form. he material is then delivered to the web 82 which moves forwardly beneath the guide rods 86, and the material is deposited on the space between the rods and also extends over the rods. The web 82 receives a coating strip of adhesive from the roller upwardly about the rods 86 into substantially right angular position, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, and hold the edges of the web in such position during its passage through the folding and sealing mechanisms. The upstanding edges of the web 82 are now brought into contact with the curved surfaces 98 of the folders 96. The upstanding edges of the web are thus bent inwardly, one being bent in advance of the other, as shown in Figure 10, and finally the flaps thus formed are bent completely down against the filler and are sealed together by pressure of the roll 102 as indicated in Figure 11.

As the guide rods 86 are in fixed position, the formed mat is drawn forwardly by the various feeding devices from the rods 86 prior to the cutting of the mat into lengths as desired. The formed mat passes from the sealing roller 102 to the feed roller 113 and is projected forwardly into the cutter mechanism where the knives 121 are so arranged as to engage the opposite faces of the pad and sever it in desired lengths. The

cutters may be timed in desired sequence with respect to the operation of the other parts of the machine so as to cut pads of different lengths to suit different conditions of packing. The ejector rollers 14:1 finally engage the severed pad and force the same outwardly through the forward end of the machine.

In order to overcome any retarding action of the cutters 121, and shock to the various gears and chains, when the cutters 121 engage the encased strip of material, the cutter shaft 117 may be provided with a fly wheel 148 as shown in the drawings.

I do not wish to be restricted to the size, form, and proportions of the various parts, and obviously changes could be made in the construction herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being only necessary that such changes fall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a. machine of the class described, means for feeding a flat web of casing material, means for feeding a strip of filling material on said web, a pair of guide rods holding said web beneath the strip, a pair of lifting bars spaced outwardly from said guide rods to engage the edges of the web and bend the same upwardly about the rods, and fold ing members arranged over said bars for receiving the up-turned edges of the web and folding the latter inwardly over the filling strip.

2. In a machine of the class described, a web, adjustable guide rods for holding the web in flat position, means for feeding a strip of packing material on to the web, means for turning up the edges of the web about said guide rods, means for folding inwardly said up-turned edges of the web, and

means for sealing the folded edges of the web. I

3. In a machine of the class described, a folding element comprising a bar overturned at one end to provide a bead, said bead being relatively large at one end of the bar and gradually decreasing in size and merging at its other end into the bar, and means for adjustably supporting the folding element.

4. In a machine of the class described, a frame, means for feeding a web through the frame, means for depositing a filling on the web, bending elements engaging the edge portions of the web for bending the edges upwardly, and a pair of folding members for engaging the up-turned edges of the web, each of said members comprising a bar with an inner beaded edge and the bead tapering in diameter from one end of the bar to the other, a pair of supporting arms for each bar, and means for adjustably securing said supporting arms to the frame for adjusting the folding members at various angles with respect to each other and with respect to the we 5. In a machine of the class described, a frame, means for feeding a web through the frame, means for depositing a filling on the web, a pair of the folding bars arranged lengthwise in the frame over the edge portions of the web for receiving said edge portions and turning the same upwardly from the web, and adjustable supporting means connected to the opposite ends of said bars for securing the same in various spaced apart positions and in various positions with respect to the frame and web.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature.

- WILLIAM A. SHEPARD. 

